A bill recently discussed in a House committee would require prescriptions for decongestants containing pseudoephedrine (soo-doh-ee-FEHD'-run)- a key ingredient in meth.

Missouri already requires pharmacies to keep the medicines behind the counter and limits how much can be purchased at one time.

KHQA caught up with Governor Jay Nixon to get his take on the issue.

"We need to continue to fight to discourage meth especially in rural Missouri. But we also need to make sure we have these basic legal cold medicines available for people regardless of their income level. I think that if we're gonna move forward on this we've gotta reach some compromise that allows folks not to have, if their kids have a cold, not necessarily have to make a doctor appointment."

Last fall the pharmaceutical industry offered to pay for a database that would track purchases of pseudoephedrine.

The state has not acted on the offer.

Some law enforcement officers say tracking systems are easy to bypass.

Missouri has led the nation in meth lab incidents since 2001.